Best Quiet Mini Fridge

We'd start most dorm and bedroom shoppers here. The Midea pairs a real compressor, which can keep dairy and leftovers at fridge temperatures, with a listed noise level under 42 dB and an Energy Star rating that works out to 207 kWh per year. The thermostat spans 28.4°F to 35.6°F, a bottle rack takes a 2L bottle, and the door opens from either side, so awkward corners are less of a problem.

Owners report that it cools quickly, swallows plenty of sodas plus things like creamer and milk, and slides under a desk with room to spare. Noise is where the picture gets untidy: owners describe units that barely register and units that are plainly loud, so we would not read the 42 dB figure as a promise. A common complaint is durability, with reports of units giving out within months, and frost can build up around the freezer area.

This is a beverage cooler more than a food fridge. Its range runs from 40°F to 61°F, which suits soda, water, beer and wine, and the 0.6 cubic foot cabinet holds roughly two dozen standard cans. The footprint is only about 11 by 15 inches, so it sits on a counter or under a desk without much negotiation.

If perishables matter, the Midea 1.6 Cu.ft Mini Fridge is the better tool, since its thermostat reaches into true fridge territory. Owners like the glass door's look, the blue interior light and the capacity for its size. Cooling and temperature control draw mixed reports, though: a common complaint is that the interior does not get below 40°F or drifts toward 50°F, and another is that the top and sides run very hot. Noise reports run from quiet to loud and startling.

The Icyglee 24 Can Mini Fridge covers the same ground, with the same 40°F to 61°F window and nearly the same footprint, while this one lists a slightly larger 0.65 cubic feet and weighs about five pounds more. Racking is horizontal, shelves can be moved, and the maker says it holds 24 standard cans. Owners like the retro styling, the LED light and the roomy feel for a cooler this size, and it gets mentioned as a fit for an outdoor kitchen.

Cooling is where owners diverge. Owners report drinks getting very cold; a common complaint is that the unit never gets cold enough and that the dial stops at 40 degrees. Noise reports run from nearly silent to very loud, so a quiet-first buyer should weigh that carefully. We'd treat it as a drink cooler for a living room or bar corner rather than a bedroom appliance.

Buyers weighing it against the Midea 1.6 Cu.ft Mini Fridge will find almost the same outside dimensions, a slightly larger rated capacity and a lower listed noise figure of 38 dB. A compact freezer compartment makes ice cubes, though the maker is clear it is not meant for ice cream, and five temperature settings run from 33.8°F to 46.4°F.

Owners report that it keeps drinks and lunch items cold, fits under a desk or in a cubicle, and holds a gallon of milk. The trouble is reliability. A common complaint is units failing within the first year, sometimes much sooner, and water dripping inside and pooling on the floor. Noise feedback ranges from surprisingly quiet to a rattle that recurs through the day. We'd be cautious about trusting it with a bedroom or a spot where a puddle would matter.

Stepping up from the Upstreman 1.7 Cu.ft Mini Fridge, you get nearly double the capacity, a crisper drawer, two adjustable glass shelves and a cabinet more than 33 inches tall, at the same listed 38 dB. A freezer compartment of 0.3 cubic feet sits above 2.9 cubic feet of fridge space, the door reverses, and the Energy Star rating is a plus for something that runs all day. This is the one we'd consider for a studio where it stands in for a second kitchen fridge.

Owners report that it holds plenty, including a gallon of milk on a shelf, and that it frees up room in the main fridge. The complaints are consistent in one area: units reaching the door scratched, dented or broken. Cooling reports are mixed too, with the freezer not freezing as hard as hoped and the top surface running warm to very hot.

It is built for a different job than the Midea 1.6 Cu.ft Mini Fridge. This 6 liter unit uses thermoelectric cooling, with no compressor, so the maker lists operation under 25 dB, and it also warms. It holds about eight cans or four larger water bottles, weighs only about 2 pounds, and ships with both AC and DC cords for a wall outlet or a car.

Owners report that it works well for skincare, drinks, shakes and leftovers in a bedroom or office, praise the black finish and easy controls, and mention pink options. Cooling is the weak point: a common complaint is that it does not get as cold as expected, never reaching 40°F, and the cooling mode is described for mild room temperatures. Durability feedback is split between units that hold up and units that failed within two months. We'd choose it for a nightstand, not for storing dairy or meat.

Its closest rival is the Midea 1.6 Cu.ft Mini Fridge, which shares the 1.6 cubic foot class but quotes a higher noise figure. Here the listed level is 30 dB, and a dedicated 0.2 cubic foot freezer compartment is rated to reach -14°C to -24°C, enough for ice cream and ice cubes, which the Upstreman 1.7 Cu.ft Mini Fridge does not promise. The door reverses, the feet adjust, and the cabinet is steel with foam insulation.

Owners report that it cools quickly, holds a steady temperature, and runs so quietly that the freezer is inaudible, while the fridge and freezer compartments keep drinks, snacks and frozen food separate. It also takes up little room and suits offices, garages and dorms. The one recurring complaint is cosmetic and build related: dents and scratches on the cabinet. The maker asks that you let the fridge rest on a flat surface for about 12 hours before plugging it in.